Here's what we learned from the new Crystal Lake trailer, including the potential introduction of Sackhead Jason
Peacock and A24 just dropped a new Crystal Lake trailer. The entire series will stream on Peacock beginning October 15, but the trailer gives away several clues about the series' narrative and plenty of Friday the 13th Easter eggs, including the potential introduction of Sackhead Jason, who debuted in Friday the 13th Pt. 2 as the first iteration of adult Jason.
Check out the trailer below.
Now, let's break down some of what we learned from the official full-length trailer.
The new Crystal Lake trailer reveals several Friday the 13th Easter eggs and new characters
Friday the 13th fans should be happy to know that the new trailer is loaded with Easter eggs from the movie franchise. Late in the trailer, Pamela Voorhees (Linda Cardellini) wears the infamous blue sweater that Pamela wears in the original movie, before she's beheaded by the initial final girl Alice (Adrienne King). It's likely that by that point in the series, Pamela has spiraled into the revenge-fueled mother that we all know. The sweater makes a brief appearance in Friday the 13th Pt. 2, when final girl Ginny (Amy Steel) encounters a shrine that adult Jason built to his mom, which includes her rotting head and the sweater. Ginny wears the sweater to fool Jason into thinking she's his mom.
Additionally, we already know that some characters from the first movie will be present in Crystal Lake. Nick Cordileone has been cast as Ralph, for instance, the older man in the first two movies who tries to warn the teens to stay away from Crystal Lake and warns them that "they're all doomed." Further, some of the shots in the trailer feature Blairstown, where the first film was shot. Anyone who has traveled there on a Friday the 13th, which the town celebrates, will recognize the glimpses of the downtown and storefronts. The fact they filmed at least a few scenes there will add some connective tissue between the prequel series and the first movie.
However, much of this cast will be new, and judging from the trailer, it looks like William Catlett's Levon will play a major role. He's a local police officer, and at one point, he tries to convince Pamela to be part of the community as a means to heal; however, she rejects that notion. It'll be interesting to see how he tracks the murders and whether or not he ends up a victim.
The Crystal Lake trailer teases Sackhead Jason (very briefly) and maybe a change to Jason's origin story
Friday the 13th fans will likely be most excited about the (very brief) appearance of Sackhead Jason late in the trailer (around the 2:15 mark). It's a blink and you'll miss it moment, but he can be seen walking quickly through the woods, with the infamous sack over his head, wielding a machete. Unless they're trolling and that's actually Pamela, that means we'll encounter an adult, or maybe teenage, version of Jason. The trailer also shows a few glimpses of childhood Jason, played by Callum Vinson. However, there's likely no way the famous hockey mask will appear because Jason does not obtain it until the third movie, well before the events of Crystal Lake, which is set in 1971 and 1972 primarily.
What Jason fans may like less, however, is a potential change to his origin story. Late in the trailer, a yellow door is seen with the letter A. It looks like it's from a government or medical facility, perhaps teasing the idea that Jason is some experiment, which could explain why he can't die. This is just a theory, but it's unclear how it'll pan out if that is indeed what's going on in this prequel series. If it's true Jason is cast as a failed experiment, then that will change his origins as a force of nature out for vengeance, and sometimes, over explanation doesn't work. Just look at the backstory given to Michael Myers in Rob Zombie's Halloween, which ruined his mystique. At this time, however, it's only speculation and we only have that brief shot of the door in the trailer to go on.
The Crystal Lake trailer showcases bloody murder and mayhem
Finally, we're treated to some grisly kills and a blood-soaked Pamela in the Crystal Lake trailer. This confirms what showrunner Brad Caleb has said about the show over the last few weeks. For instance, in a recent interview with Polygon, he promised the gore wouldn't be tame, but he also wants the prequel to appeal to an audience new to the franchise. He said, "As much as I grew up with these movies, my wife did not, and I want it to be something that I could watch with her. Not necessarily take the gore or the edge or what makes it Friday the 13th off of it. Keep all that stuff, but widen the appeal to some degree by maybe adding deeper layers of character and motivation and backstory. You can't be all things to all people, but hopefully I was able to integrate enough of those elements that it'll feel satisfying as a complete piece."
At least we know that the prequel will stick with the tradition of slashers and maintain the mayhem and bloodshed. It'll also be fun to see Cardellini play such a vengeful character, quick to kill.
Are you excited about the Crystal Lake series? If so, let us know your thoughts in the comments.
All episodes of Crystal Lake will stream on Peacock beginning October 15.
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